Budget Manager

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• • • The Budget Manager will engage in the following:

• • • Management of Project, Department, and Organization-wide budgeting.
    • Work closely with the Sr. Director, External Affairs to develop appropriate budgets for foundation grant proposals.
    • Support Business Development with the preparation of quotes and contract pricing for new earned revenue opportunities.
    • Work closely with Revenue Manager to track all new revenue generating projects. Schedule project budget meetings timely, prior to commencing work.
    • Ensure each new project has a budget. Meet with Project Leads at the start of each contract or grant to set budget goals. Support Project Leads so they understand budget assumptions.
    • Assist Sr. Director, Finance with annual organization-wide budgeting and planning process. Track budget changes and update forecasts accordingly.
    • Manage project budgets, budget changes, and forecasts  in our budgeting and planning software, Sage Intacct Planning
    • Review monthly  budget to actual reports.
    • Communicate with Project Leads throughout and at the conclusion of the contract or grant. Document and work to resolve budget variances with Project Leads. Update forecast based on changes and permanent variances.
    • Communicate with department directors as needed to resolve department level budget variances.  Document and communicate significant variances to Manager, Financial Reporting.
    • Work closely with Manager, Financial Reporting to ensure he/she is aware of significant budget variances that will need to be disclosed on internal financial reporting to Executive Team.
    • Monitor compliance with internal policies related to grant funds and any other applicable grant regulations; advise Project Leads as needed.

• • • Cross-functional Collaboration
    • Collaborate with Teaching Lab Program and Shared Services divisions to identify new or enhanced financial-rated products and services necessary to optimize programmatic impact and operational efficiency,  and manage plans to develop and finalize those products and services
    • Seek and responding to feedback from team members and adjust strategies and operations accordingly
    • Conduct analyzes to provide necessary grants and contract budget information to inform headcount decisions made by the Executive Team and the People & Culture team

• • Continuous Learning
  • Stay abreast of key research and guidance in the field, and attend learning experiences to build skills and competencies in operations
  • Engage in personal and organized learning opportunities as a team member at an organization that aspires to be anti-racist and champions racial equity
  • Seek and respond to feedback from staff and adjust operational processes accordingly
  • Create and deliver training to other team members on core skills or competencies within the Accounting Manager role which is also transferable and critical for other roles

KEY SUCCESS INDICATORS (KSIs)

• • • The Budget Manager is accountable for achieving goals set in collaboration with the Senior Director, Finance aligned with FY24 goals, and especially, operational-specific Key Success Indicators (KSI) like:

• • • Maintain Financial Stability:
    • Teaching Lab is a financially sustainable organization with efficient financial operations.
    • 80% of invoices are collected within 60 days
    • Earned Revenue/philanthropy ratio does not fall below 40%/60%
    • Profit margin remains at least 6%
    • Annual net income maintains a forward-looking 4-6 month cash reserve
    • Operational overhead cost (administrative and fundraising) is <25%

• • • Operate efficiently and equitably:
    • Develop and refine internal operational structures and systems to allow all team members and contractors to do their best work every day.
    • 80% of employees report that organizational platforms (monday.com, Justworks, Expensify, etc) increased their organizational collaboration, efficiency, or transparency
    • 90% of FTEs and PTEs agree that they “have the data or information I need to do my work right
    • 90% of employees agree that the work processes and procedures are clear and sufficient.
    • 100%, on average, of leads and clients are tracked in the CRM, following business rules, by the end of each month
    • 100%, on average, of earned revenue and philanthropic pipeline data is updated, usable and accurate by the end of each month

• • Innovation and Cost-effectiveness: 
  • Teaching Lab maintains cost of services at or below $1,500/teacher/year
  • As applicable, within the role, model the radical commitments for our values (i.e., collaboration, responsive service, research, excellence, learning with humility, and equity).

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance, or in a similar field, like Business Management
  • 5+ years of proven experience in accounting or finance
  • Broad knowledge of accounting principles (GAAP), laws, and best practices for nonprofit organizations
  • Proficiency with Sage Intacct, or similar system
  • Proficiency with Excel
  • Ability to communicate processes and procedures required of grants and contract management

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• • Experience with Federal grant accounting standards
  • Experience creating and refining policies for best practices

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• • Ability to work a flexible schedule to support operational needs
  • Ability to perform the essential project, duties and responsibilities with or without accommodation
  • All team members are expected to support program/project needs which could mean that you play multiple roles at Teaching Lab (i.e., project lead, support, subject matter expert, etc.).
  • Travel could be required for the role.  Travel is determined based on business needs and can vary depending on partnership/contract requirements.

TEACHING LAB’S VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

• • • Teaching Lab seeks to fundamentally shift the paradigm of teacher professional learning by reaching more educators every year with the highest impact programming.
    • Teaching Lab’s ultimate goals are:
    • Educators learn more than they would without us
    • Students learn more than they would without us, in a way that cannot be predicted by race, gender, or family income
    • Educators we serve say they love our approach and they want to keep doing it to advance educational equity

• • Collaboration
  • Responsive Service
  • Research
  • Excellence
  • Learning with Humility